The Whittier Organic Food Center for Los Angeles, which “flips” greenhouses vertically, is a state-of-the-art food production testing and learning facility. It recently took top honors in the Cavin Family Travel Fellowship.DESCRIPTION: Whittier Organic Food Center TowersCavin Family Travel Fellowship 2011

CONTEXT:The lack of density and infrastructure within the city of Los Angeles metropolitan are presents a myriad of severe urban design problems. Little rain and high solar exposure create further environmental issues for development. Whittier will become a catalyst for a new form of Southwestern urbanism, utilizing the land, a small footprint, the sun, and the scarce water supply.Besides being a state-of-the-art food production testing and learning facility, the Whittier Organic Food Center creates opportunity for social sustainability, leasing areas of the garden and tower green walls to locals for micro-agro business. Crops are stored for disaster relief, and distribution and sales to local restaurants and school cafeterias, germinating like a seed in the community. The on-site food bank reaches out to those in need and provides on-site housing for students and trade laborers wishing to pursue work in urban agriculture.

PROGRAM:Organic food centers and community gardens have gathered momentum across the country, with people planting on their fire escapes in Manhattan and year long wait lists for community p-patch space. The required large 400,000 ft3 hydroponic ware¬house warrants a large amount of site cov¬erage for conventional greenhouse layout. By flipping the largest program vertically, we utilize the higher altitude for on-site energy generation through increased wind and so¬lar exposure, while the essential function of hydroponics is allowed to happen with natural gravity. A bar scheme is hard to maximize passive solar and wind also diminish permeable green space and the openness of the site to the community. Towers are the way!MATERIALITY:Ultra light weight thin film photovoltaic integrated ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) pillows provide excellent housing for greenhouses as they expand and contract by pumping air through them, controlling high to low insulation values. They are made of high-recycled content, self clean, and blow away like flakes in fire, making them highly efficient. They are tensile and work perfect for rainwater and condensation harvesting with their smooth surface and variable temperature. Reclaimed wood screens, recycled steel, and high fly ash concrete are all made and fabricated locally minimizing carbon emissions.

Center for Urban AgricultureStart: 2007Location: Seattle, WashingtonFocus of the design: Food, water, and energy Agricultural features: fields for growing vegetables and grains, greenhouses, rooftop gardens, and even a chicken farm. Vertical construction allows for the CUA to incorporate more than an acre of native habitat and farmland on the building’s .72 acre site.

ContainersBuilding location in reference to the city

Bio-diversity graphWater graphEnergy graphFood graphNorth viewSouth viewViews from the streetWith the goal of self-sufficiency, the CUA is designed to be completely independent of city water ― even providing its own drinking water.

Grey water, as well as rain collected via the structure’s 31,000+ sq. ft. rooftop rainwater collection area, would be treated and recycled on site.

The filtering and purifying would occur through the use of greenhouses, planters, and bio membrane plants which utilize plants’ ability to remove contaminates from water.

The site would provide 318 small studio, 1- and 2-bedroom affordable apartments. The entry level could feature a café serving organic foods grown on site.

34,000+ sf of photovoltaic cells would collect energy, regulated over the seasons by storage as hydrogen gas in underground tanks.

This project was originally conceived as a response to the Cascadia Region Green Building Council’s Living Building Challenge and was awarded most visionary of the 19 entries. The term “living building” comes from the idea that it is possible to create a structure that functions like a living organism ― able to survive using only the natural environment around it.

Why this centre will benefit the community?1. Organic food is healthier and natural, so good for the health of the citizens.2. Produces food locally thereby cutting down on costs and fuel consumption.3. Produces employment opportunities in the community.4. It will help bring a diverse crowd in the area thereby increasing the vibrancy of the community and giving more business opportunities for the local people

Produce grown at the CUA would be distributed to local grocers, saving even more energy by reducing transportation miles.